Match-safe



(No Model.)

OLE. RENTER.

.MATGH SAFE.

No. 528,691. Patented Nov. 6, 1894.

WITNESSES: v INVENTOH wrromvsy. I

THE mums Pmns co. Pumouma..w-s0 mamu o c 3 NITED STATES PATIENT OFFICE.

MATCH-SAFE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent N 0. 528,691, dated November 6, 1894.

Application filed March 15, 1894- Serial No. 503,804. (No model.

.I'o aZZ whom it may concern.-

Be it known that '1, CHARLES HENRY REN- TER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Allegheny city, in the county of Allegheny and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Match- Safes; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it pertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, which form a part of this specification, in which Figure l is a perspective or projection of my improved match safe. Fig. 2 is a sectional elevation of the forward portion through line m-x of Fig. 1 and the rear portion on line y--y of said Fig. 1. shown in Fig. 2, showing the blade depressed and feeding one match. Fig. 4 is a rear elevation of my improved safe. Figs. 5 and 6 are respectively rear and side views of feed blade.

My invention relates to devices adapted to contain matches, and my object is to produce a device of this general character adapted to feed or deliver a single match at each successive operation without the interposition or intervention of the fingers, and to this purpose consists in the novel construction and arrangement of parts, hereinafter specifically described, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming part hereof in which like figures indicate like parts wherever they occur.

Referring to said drawings 1 is a box or case, of any suitable shape, and constructed of any suitable material. In the front of said case longitudinally, and near the bottom of the same, is formed a slot 2, in which the front end of the inclined plane 3 projects, the pressure of the free end of the spring 4, which is secured in the bottom of said case, normally maintaining the same in contact with the upper edge of said slot, for the purpose of preventing the delivery, or discharge of matches 5 laid lengthwise in said case on said incline plane which forms the false bottom of said case, until the blade 6 which operatesin the groove or slide 7 formed in the rear of said front is forced downward in contact with the Fig. 3 is the same as.

forward end of said plane enabling the delivery of a single match, as shown in Fig. 3. The recoil of the spiral spring 8 which is mounted on the stem 9 of said blade, causes said blade to ascend; the pressure of said spring upon said plane immediately closing said slot 2, and preventing the further discharge of matches therethrough, until said blade is again depressed. It will be observed that the lower portion 10 of said blade 6 is shaped in cross section, as shown'in Figs. 2, 3, and 6, like the tine of a fork, and is provided with a small hole 11 punched from the front, so as to form a slight protuberance upon the rear side of said blade. Itwill also be observed that, that portion of said plane immediately to the rear of the slotin the front of said safe, is of less angularity than the major portion thereof; and that the lower edge of the blade is of less width than the upper portion, and is arranged to terminate slightly above, or upon the same plane with said inclined bottom, at the point of change of angularity of the same, and that the upper edge of the slot 2 is beveled or outwardly curved;

which enables a single match to fall forward and below the lower edge of said blade, as

shown in Fig. 2, whereby when said blade is,

forced down, as heretofore described, said match is fed forward or delivered, as shown in Fig. 3; the curvature of the lower edge of said blade preventing the further discharge of matches, while thus pressed down, as shown in Fig. 3, the slight protuberance formed on the rear of said blade by said hole therein, serving when in contact with said matches, to force the same backward. The rear part of said inclined plane forming the bottom of said safe, is preferably formed with atongue 12 inserted, and suitably secured in the slot- 13 in the back of said case, or as shown socured therein by the double pronged brad or spline 14:, which fits in a correspondingly shaped recess in the back of said case, as shown in Fig. 4.; the said tongue having holes therein through which the prongs of said brad are passed to admit of this.

- In the construction of my device, I use preferably Russia iron, of light gage, to form the blade, and tin of reasonably heavy caliber to form the inclined plane forming the bottom thereof, as the Russia iron gives the required rigidity to said blade, and the tin the required elasticity to the said bottom.

Having described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, 1s-

1. In a match safe substantially as described, the combination of a case the front of which is provided with a slot at the bottom of the same, an inclined plane suitably secured in the interior of said case, and forming the false bottom thereof, means to maintain the front edge of said plane normally in contact with the upper edge of said slot, and a vertical blade the lower portion of which terminates in an irregularcurve, and adapted when forced against said incline plane to open or expose said slot, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

2. In a match safe substantially as described the combination of a case the front of which is provided with a slot, an inclined plane suitably supported in the interior of said case, and forming a false bottom therein; the front end of said false bottom projecting in said slot, means to normally maintain the front end of said bottom in contact with the upper edge of said slot, and a blade suitably secured in the inside of the front of said case to the rear of the slot therein, the lower portion of said blade terminating in an irregular curve, and adapted when pushed down to force the forward end of the inclined false bottom to the bottom of the slot in the front of the case, whereby one match may be delivered or discharged, substantially as and for the purpose herein described.

3. In a match safe substantially as described, the combination of a case the front of which is provided with a slot extending the entire width of the same, an inclined plane suitably supported in the interiorof said case, the forward portion of said plane being formed on a slightly different angle than the major portion to the rear and projecting in and normally maintained in the upper portion of said slot, means to so maintain said plane or false bottom, and a blade operable in a groove formed in the rear of the front, the lower portion being of less width than the upper portion, and forming an irregular curve, and provided with slight protuberance on inner side thereof; the upper portion of said blade having a stem projecting above the top of the safe, whereon aspiral spring is mounted, whereby when said stem is pushed downwardly, the inclined false bottom is forced to the bottom of said slot exposing or opening the same, and enabling the discharge of a single match, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing I hereunto affix my signature this th day of illarch, A. D. 1894.

CHARLES HENRY RENTER. [L. 5.]

In presence of-- JAS. J. MoAl nn, O. A. WILLIAMS. 

